在思考玛丽和伊丽莎白的选择。
玛丽是反叛者,她想开创一个新的、她心中认为更正确的时代,所以她没有偏向自己信仰的天主教,而是希望它能和新教包容共处。她不愿意调整和改变自己的期待,结果就是她的选择和坚持导致了她自己的灭亡。伊丽莎白是幸存者,对于她来说,活下来,然后巩固自己的地位最重要,因为只有活着才有可能有机会去实现自己想要实现的东西。于是她选择了能够给予支持的新教,即使在生命中的很多时候,她都处在那些人的压迫和威胁之下,她总是不得不顺应他们而违背自己的意愿和本心。
如果回头看,伊丽莎白的选择是对的,而玛丽错了。因为在当时的环境,想要新教和天主教和平共处就是妄想。所以伊丽莎白的妥协让一切有了意义,而玛丽的斗争就成了枉然。可如果往前看,玛丽的期待难道不是理想?现在的人们不就是在实现她的期望?她的悲剧在于她的期待对于她的时代来说太前卫,所以理想才变成了妄想。
可是我们谁又能真的清楚地知道,自己的期待是理想还是妄想?一切到最后只有时间能证明,可选择只有一次。这个时间是多久?
一切又变成了命运的安排。
妥协就是给自己创造机会。可伊丽莎白会不会觉得煎熬的活着比死还难受?而玛丽难道不会在临死前感到解脱和痛快?毕竟一切可以重来,结束也意味着开始,开始就意味着终将结束。如同绝望中一样可以孕育出希望,而希望到最后也可能变成绝望。
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电影尾声,Mary和Elizabeth的唯一一次秘密见面,她们的对话是结局高潮的前戏。即使不了解历史,也可以感受到Mary和Elizabeth之间巨大的性格差异,前者是反叛者,后者是幸存者。然而作为女人她们都有着十分特殊而又相似的处境,这让她们之间又产生了一种无法与其他人产生的联结和共情。
Mary: I should have stayed true to your love. I should have followed your example and never married.
Elizabeth: Then you would have no son.
M: Whose mother is without a crown, whose own throne is usurped by his uncle.
E: You must have faith. Your brother will keep his word.
M: I have no faith in him. I have only faith in you. You would let them show the world that a queen can so easily be forsworn? Answer me, sister.
E: To war with Scotland and betray my own clergy on a Catholic's behalf. No, I cannot. You know I cannot.
M: Did you come so far at such great risk only to refuse me?....If you refuse me an army, say it to my face. Do not force me to beg to your back.
[Elizabeth turns to face Mary]
M: I will kneel before you if I must.
E: It would make no difference. You are safe here in England. That's all I can offer.
M: I have been abandonded by so many. I am utterly alone.
E: As am I . Alone.
M: Then be my sister. Be my boy's godmother. Together we could conquer all of those who doubt us.... Do not play into their hands. Our enmity is precisely what they hope for. I know your heart has more within it then the men who counsel you.
E: I am more man than woman now. The throne has made me so. But I have no enmity with you.
M: Except to seed rebellion, and to deceive me time and time again?
E: If you still seek my protection, you would do well to watch your words.
M: I will not scolded by my inferior.
E: Your inferior?
M: I am a Stuart, which gives me greater calim to Egnland than you possess.
[To Mary, Elizabeth referrs to her wig]
E: I had this made, because I wanted to present the best version of myself.
[Elizabeth takes off her wig]
E: I was jealous. Your beauty. Your Bravery. Your motherhood. You seem to surpass me in every way. But now I see there is no cause for envy. Your gifts are your downfall.
M: What now, sister?
E: You will still have my protection, under my terms.
M: Until you have me killed?
E: I will do no such thing.
M: Wouldn't you? As Henry killed your mother?
E: I am not my father.
M: But you share his blood.
E: As long as you do not provoke my enemies, you have nothing to fear. Your fate rests in your own hands.
M: If I see to help your enemies, this only because you pushed me to their arms. Adn should you murder me, remember you murder your sister. And you murder your queen.